New parking charges will kill business, say traders (From Times Series)
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New Barnet Council parking charges will kill business, say East Barnet traders
4:50pm Monday 5th March 2012 in News By Chris Hewett
Motorists will have to pay for parking using using mobile phones or pre-paid scratch cards
New parking charges being introduced to an East Barnet shopping precinct will kill off trade and turn the village into a ghost town, say local businesses.
Barnet Council has issued notice of charges coming into force in the Church Hill Road car park, which has served local shops in the village for decades.
The move will bring the car park in line with off-street parking charges across the borough, which motorists can only pay using mobile phones or pre-paid scratch cards.
Shopkeepers have warned the prices and inconvenience will push customers away, with many claiming they will be forced to close if the charges are introduced.
Rob Pugh, owner of Abbey Fire Alarms, started a petition in several of the village shops last week that has already been signed by scores of people opposing the move.
He said: “I’m very angry and disappointed. They tried to introduce these charges in 2001 but we fought it then and won. The council is penalising us - our customers are going to go elsewhere.
"The motto of this council is 'putting the community first' – it’s a joke. How are they putting us first if they are hitting residents with these charges?”
The council also plans to introduce the pricing scheme to car parks in Egerton Gardens and New Brent Street, Hendon, and Quakers Course, Colindale.
Prices start at £1.05 for a half hour stay and rise to £5.25 to park for more than three hours.
Many local businesses that rely on passing trade fear the restrictions will force them to close.
Demetra Andreou, co-owner of Jet Dry Cleaners, said: “We’re very upset. It has been very hard as it is but now I fear we will have to close. The charges are completely unnecessary – all the customer wants is to stop for two minutes to pick up and drop off their clothes.
"No-one will pay that amount of money to park up. We have never had such a bad time and this is the final straw. Everything is working against us – even the council.”
The authority is currently running a consultation on the charges and residents have until Thursday, March 22, to comment.
In a statement, a council representative said: “These proposed changes would allow the council to better manage its assets as well as making sure car parks meet varying demands for short and long stay parking in each area.
"The proposals are still subject to consultation until March 22 and therefore a decision is yet to be taken.”
Comments(3)
Mr V Cold
says...
12:17am Tue 6 Mar 12
ditto
I'm lucky i can pay for the parking but this is a tax on the poor as to stop.
JEANBEUSCHER
says...
10:27pm Tue 13 Mar 12
I accuse many Councils of unlawfully bringing-in parking restrictions , not to avoid danger or to reduce congestion which were the main aims of the statutes , but simply to increase Council revenue by means of fines , which I claim is unlawful , and not what Parliament intended .
Pickles has been asked in just 17 Words :- “ Why are Councils across the land murdering small businesses by their parking policies since going “ De-Crim ” ?
Going “ De-Crim ” is an administrative change which Councils can make so that , rather than the Police collecting parking fines & this being a criminal offence , Councils can vote to collect fines themselves , rather than the Police , and parking offences will no longer be classed as criminal . The legal name for this administrative change is for a Council to “ introduce Civil Parking Enforcement “ into it’s area .
Most Councils have seized upon this as an opportunity & means to simply increase their revenue , via a multitude of Traffic Regulation Orders coupled with a massive increase in Double & Single Yellow lines & Parking Zones & associated Parking Permit Sales often done at the time of going “De Crim ” .
Since the most common road markings are Single and Double Yellow Lines this results in these stretches receiving the most parking tickets & penalty charge notices , and hence Fines .
Councils have often failed to carry out the prescribed Legal Public Consultation which Councils should have held with the Fire Brigade , Police and Ambulance Services & Others , as to why such extensive Parking Restrictions , including extra Double & Single Yellow Lines were required in the first place .
As a result Councils have simply stolen the streets and are busy renting these back to the Electorate from whom they have been stolen ; And recklessly killing Businesses in the process , without conscience or remorse ; And charging ever increasing rents for the streets which they have hi-jacked ; And causing no end of stress to the Public who simply cannot go about their daily lives because City access is being constricted by Council greed ; Especially damaging across a whole range of areas , from Village Shops to London’s West End .
This is unacceptable : It is alleged that this wide-spread practice may even be a form of “money laundering ” ; It is terrible now ; It can and will only get worse ; It must be remedied at the highest level possible . I therefore appeal to Mr Cameron , Mr Pickles & Lord Young to check such Councils who are abusing their powers .
I ask that they replace the Audit Law of Surcharge , so as to give the Public a Legal Remedy under Audit which they enjoyed before 2000 . Barnet is no different to many Local Authorities across the land . JB
BarnetTrader says...
6:35pm Mon 5 Mar 12